S PHILIPPINES – In U.S. Eighth Army’s X Corps area, 19th Inf of 24th Div advances on Mindanao to within 4 miles of Davao, seizing Daliao airstrip and Talomo; 21st Inf, 31st Div, though hampered by rear-guard opposition and demolitions, makes substantial progress up Sayre Highway. On Negros, 1st Bn is ordered to move to Malabo and attack, in order to ease pressure on 2d Bn, 164th Inf, on heights near Palimpinon.

Compilation done by Mary H. Williams of the Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army, Washington D.C. in 1960

WHILE Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla assured City Mayor Jerry P. TreÃ±as that they would do something with the problem on the source on power, the mayor suggested that power saving would be of much help while there is no clear solution to the alleged power problem.

He pointed out two reasons why there is a need to conserve energy in the city. The one he cited was the high cost of fuel and two, the estimated power shortage.

The mayor said he will have a meeting with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) among other departments about the conservation of energy very soon. He added that they have distributed manuals on how to conserve energy.

“I strongly support the implementation of day light savings,” said TreÃ±as.

While on the implementation of a four-day work week, which had reportedly made some agencies save electricity, TreÃ±as said it experience made them know it’s not effective unless, offices will be closed completely during Fridays.

But he said “you can’t completely close some offices like the Treasurer’s Office and the Health Centers.”

Meanwhile, TreÃ±as said he has been trying to contact the secretary since Wednesday to Thursday but he failed to reach Lotilla

THE Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) recently got a shot in the arm with Malaysia pledging to develop the local halal industry to increase the region’s chances of penetrating the food market of Islamic countries.

Armm Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, who made a recent visit to the State of Malacca, revealed this development last week.

“The region will be receiving technical assistance in coming up with a halal certifying scheme from Jakim, Malaysia’s halal certification body,” he said.

Ampatuan added that the Malaysian certification body is recognized among Muslim countries.

Early this week, Armm officials conducted an inter-agency halal industry development conference in Cotabato City to evaluate production aspect that need to be addressed in order to establish a viable halal industry in the region.

Ampatuan said the international and domestic halal markets remain attractive and potential sources of huge revenue for those engaged in the agriculture sector.

Jamil Hamsa Olermo, member and former chairman of the Muslim Business Forum, stressed that there are at least 1.48 billion Muslim consumers around the world they could bank on.

Halal is considered a quality control system by itself that puts emphasis on critical control points involving hygienic and disease-free preparation of foods.

A RECRUITMENT agency is looking for 170 licensed nurses to be sent to Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Philippine Association of Service Exporter, Inc. president Vic Fernandez said the 170 licensed nurses, male or female will work as staff nurses at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital at Jeddah.

“If nurses from Davao will work abroad, the city will be earning a lot and this will generate a lot of economic activities for the city,” Fernandez said during the I-speak press conference Thursday.

Fernandez said employment duration will be for two years with 48 hours per week working hours and a monthly salary of Saudi Rial 2,550.

According to him, assured applicants that their operation is legal and that they hold a Philippine Overseas Employment Agency and Department of Labor and Employment license to export manpower to other countries.

“We have a signed memorandum of agreement with the Philippine National Police, Department of Interior and Local Governance to fight against illegal recruiters and a memorandum of agreement with the National Bureau of Investigation to fight against human trafficking,” he said.

Fernandez said interested applicants can go to the Royal Mandaya Hotel on April 29 until May 2 for testing, interview and selections.